Ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance.



No.84'7,9l' 7. PATBNTED MAR. 19,"l9 0'7. A. T. DAWSON & J. HORNB.AMMUNITION HOISTING APPARATUS POR ORDNANGE.y

APPLICATION FILBD4DE0.7.1.903.`

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

rus: Namzls PETERS c.. wAsHlNaroN. nrcA PATBNTBD MAR. 19, 19m

AMMUNITION HOISTING APPARATUS PUR ORDNANC'B.

APPLIGATION FILED DEU. 7, '1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

azfz ed' War/z e rens c No. 847,917. PATBNTED MAR. 19, 1907.

A. T. DAWSON n J. HORNE. AMMUNITION HOISTING APPARATUS FOR ORDNANOE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. '7, 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEETS.

THE Napels PETERS co., wAsHmaToN. c.

PATBNTED MAR. 19., 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A. T, DAWSON A; J. HORNE. AMMUNITION HOISTING APPARATUS FOR ORDNANGE.

I APPLICATION FILED DBG.7, 1903.

mr: Naam; rrfsRs co4, w

UNITED STATES PATENT OEFTQE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON, OF WESTMIN STER, AND JAMES HORNE, OF BAR-ROW-IN-FURNESS, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VICKERS SONS & MAXIM LIMITED, OFVESTMIN STER, ENGLAND.

AIVIIVIUNITION-HOISTING APPARATUS FOR ORDNANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 19, 1907 Application tiled December '7, 1903. Serial No,184,225.

T0 all whom, it may oon/cern.'

Be it known that we, ARTHUR TRnvoR DAWSON, lieutenant of the Royal Navy,director and superintendent of ordnance works, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, reside ing at 32 Victoria street, Testminster, in thecounty of London, England, and JAMES I-IORNE, engineer, a subject of theKing of Great Britain, of Vickers Sons & Maxim Limited, NavalConstruction IVorks, Barrow-in-Furness, in the county of Lancaster.,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in andRelating to Ammunition-Hoisting Apparatus for Ordnance, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has reference to ammunition-hoisting apparatus forordnance, and relates particularly to the class of ordnance that ismounted on a revolving turn-table having a circular or cylindrical trunkthat revolves with said turn-table and extends down to theammunition-supply rooms.

According to our invention the shell and powder charges are conveyedseparately to the gun-platform, the shells being delivered between theguns (if there are two) by one or two direct hoists and the powdercharges being delivered at points outside the guns by two separatehoists. At the gun-platform inclined receiving-trays are provided forthe shells elevated by the shell-hoists, said trays being so arrangedthat the shells will enter them automatically from the shell-hoists andleave them automatically to enter auxiliary lifting-cages, by which theshells are deposited into radial or swinging loading-trays carried by anoscillatory part of the gun-mounting and by which the shells are broughtinto alinement with the gun-breech, these auxiliary lifting-cages beingsituated at the rear of and laterally with res ect to the gun. Thereceiving-trays may e either fixed or pivoted. When our invention isapplied to a single gun mounted on a revolving turntable having acircular or cylindrical trunk, as above stated, the shells and thepowder charges are conveyed separately to opposite sides of thegun-platform, the shells being automatically received by a iixed orpivoted inclined tray at the gun-platform and automatically depositedfrom the said tray into an auxiliary lifting-cage for conveyance to theradial or swinging loading-tray, as in the arrangement for the doublegun-mounting. The said auxiliary lifting-cages are adapted to move alongguide-rails that are curved in a path concentric with the gun-trunnions,so that said auxiliary lifting-cages will elevate the shells to aposition approximately parallel to the axis of the gun at all angles ofelevation of the latter.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, we willrdescribe the same more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinalsection, Fig. 2 a transverse section, and Fig. 3 a sectional plan, of apair of guns mounted en tarbette and' provided with our improvedammunitionhoisting apparatus having a single shellhoist delivering theshells between the guns and two powder-hoists delivering the powdercharges to the outside of the guns. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of thelower part of the revolving trunk. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section -ofsaid trunk. Fig. 6 is a detail ,view showing the aforesaid inclinedreceiving-tray when made pivotal. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section, Fig.8 a transverse section, and Fig. 9 a sectional plan, showing ourhoisting apparatus applied to a single gun mounted en barbe/tte. Fig. 10is a horizontal section through the revolving trunk. Fig. 11 is asectional elevation of the lower part of the hoist, showing amodification in which the shells are supplied to the said hoist at apoint or level below that at which the powder charges are suppliedthereto.

In all these figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.

A A are the guns. Bis the revolving turntable on which they are mounted,and C the circular or cylindrical trunk that revolves with saidturn-table;

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, the shells are conveyed inpairs to the gunplatform in a single hoisting-cage D, which travelsvertically in guides in the central portion of the trunk C and which islifted by means of a wire rope actuated by a hydraulic press E or othersuitable means. The shells are conveyed from the shell-rooms by anoverhead trolley and deposited on an inclined tray F, attached to thebottom of the trunk,

IOO

where they are retained by suitable stops f, Fig. 4, which are liberatedwhen the hoistingcage D is in the proper position at the bottom of thehoist Jfor receiving the shells. The shells are then free to slide intothe hoistingcage and on so doing come to rest against, suitable stops dd at the rear of the latter. These stops when the cage D has arrived atthe gun-platform are automatically released, thereby permitting theshells which are carried by the cage in an inclined position to slidefrom said cage onto the ixed inclined receiving-trays G G, Figs. 1 and3, at the gun-platform. Stops g g are likewise provided at the rear ofthese receiving-trays to retain the shells until auxiliary lifting-cagesH H at the gun-platform assume the proper position to receive them, thesaid stops g g being depressed in each case to permit the shells toslide into the respective auxiliary lifting-cages. If desired, twohoisting-cages D with independent hoisting-gear may be employed to raisethe shells from the ammunition-room to the gun-platform. The aforesaidauxiliary liliting-cages H at the gun-platform are raised vertically onguide-rails h h, Fig. 1, which are curved to form a path concentric withthe gun-trunnions, so that the shells may be brought to a positionapproximately parallel to the center or axial line of the guns andconvenient 'for being tilted into radial or swinging loading-trays I I,carried by the loading-arm J or an extension on the gun-slideirrespective of the position of the guns in elevation or depression.Compensating gear (which may be of the kind described in thespecification of our previous British Patent No. 9,415, dated May 4,1899) may be provided to give corresponding movement to the auxiliarylifting-cages, so that the A osition of the auxiliary cage relative tothe oading-tray in each case will remain unaltered while the shell isbeing tilted should the gun during such time be elevated or depressed.The trays h h on these auxiliary ifting-cages are pivoted at h2 on theirhori- Zontal axes and are retained in their correct positions bysuitable springs h3 or other resilient devices. Levers h* h4, which maybe attached to the respective trays on the auxiliary lifting-cages, areso arranged as to engage with cams a a or the like on the guncradle, soas to automatically tilt the trays and cause the shells carried by themto roll into the radial or swinging loading-trays l I. Sto-ps y' y',formed on the loading-arm J or an extension on the gun-slide, areprovided to arrest the auxiliary lifting-cage in the correct positionfor depositing the projectiles into the radial or swinging loading-traysI. The said radial loading-trays (which may be of the kind described inthe specification of our previous British Patent No. 9,417, dated May 4,1899) can then be swung into the breech of the gun and the shellsrammed.

The hoist for conveying the powder charges to the gun-platform may be ofthe endlesschain type carrying a series of vertical double buckets K K,each bucket receiving two halfcharges. The buckets are suspended onsuitable pivots c between the chains k, which are arranged to pass oversprocket-wheels 7a2 at the top and bottom of the hoist and are deiiectedby suitable means into convenient positions for loading and unloadingthem. T he buckets are so arranged in their respective hoists that whenone is in the loading position at the bottom another is in the unloadingposition at the top. rIhere are two openings c c, Fig. 2, at the bottomof the trunk U for loading and two openings c c at the gun-platform forunloading, one opening being on each side of the gun-platform. rIhehoists are driven through suitable gearing by hydraulic or other motorsL L. A passage may be provided in the trunk for taking up the ammunitionby hand. This passage may also be used as a ladder-way for access fromthe ammunition-rooms to the gun-platform. An opening b, Fig. 3, on thegun-platform communicates with the said passage. Automatic gear will beprovided to stop the buckets at the loading and unloading positions,these stoppages being arranged to take place at the same time.

lf it should not be possible to obtain the proper angle or continuousinclination of the shell-hoisting cage D, the inclined receivingtray G,and the auxiliary lifting-cage H, which is desirable when thehoisting-cage is fully raised and the auxiliary lifting-cage is fullylowered to bring these two cages in alinement with the said inclinedreceivingtray, and thus make it certain that the shell willautomatically travel, as required from one cage to the other under allconditions of heel of the ship, the inclined receivingtray may becarried on a horizontal pivot g, Fig. 6, situated near its center, andmay be arranged to receive the shell in a comparatively horizontalposition. Said tray may then be tilted by means or" a lever worked byhand or automatically as the auxiliary lifting-cage descends, and saidtray would be thus caused to assume a suliicient inclination for theshell to slide from it into the auxiliary lifting-cage, as shown in Fig.6.

Ve now refer to Figs. 7 to 10, which illustrate our ammunition hoistingapparatus applied to a single gun mounted en berbette. In this case thegun is mounted (as before stated with respect to the doublegun-mounting) on a revolving turn-table B, tojwhich is attached thecircular or cylindrical trunk C, that revolves with the turn-table andextends' down to the ammunition -supply rooms. The shells and powdercharges are conveyed separately to opposite sides of' the gun-platform.The shells are raised. to the gunplatform in a hoisting-cage D, whichtravels IOS vertically in guides c3 in the trunk C and is deflectedthrough the turn-table B, so as to deliver its load at one side of thegun-mounting. The said hoisting-cage is lifted by means of a wire ropecarried over suitable sheaves and actuated by a hydraulic press L orother suitable means. The shells are conveyed from the shell-room by anoverhead trolley and deposited on a loading-tray F', which is inclinedlongitudinally at a similar angle to that of the tray oi' thehoistingcage. Stops f are provided on the said loading-tray F to preventthe shell from being pushed into the hoistway unless the hoisting-cageis in proper position for its reception. The hoisting-cage as it cornesinto position at the lower end of the hoist is arranged to automaticallydepress the stops j", thereby permitting the shell to be rolled onto thetray of the cage D. A stop d is arranged at the rear of thehoisting-cage to prevent the shell from moving backward until the cagehas reached the gun-platform, when said stop is automatically displaced,thus permitting the shell to slide onto the iixed inclinedreceiving-tray G at the gunplatform. A stop g is likewise provided atthe rear of this receiving-tray to retain the.

shell until the auxiliary lifting-cage H at the gun-platform hasdescended into the proper position to receive it, the stop g at the rearoi the receiving-tray being then automatically displaced, so as topermit the shell to slide into the auxiliary cage. The said auxiliarycage is raised vertically on guide-rails 7L 7i., which are curved in apath concentric with the gun-trunnions, so that the shell may be broughtto a position approximately parallel to the center line or axis of thegun and convenient for being tilted into the radial or swingingloadingtray I irrespective of the position of the gun in elevation ordepression. A stop y' is provided on the loading-arm J or bracket toarrest the cage in the correct position for tilting. rThe auxiliary cageis provided with compensating gear, so that the relative position of thecage and loading-tray remains unaltered during the tilting of the shell,should the gun at this time be elevated or depressed, as explained withreference to the double gun-mounting above referred to. The loading-trayon this auxiliary cage may be similar in construction and arrangement tothat explained with reference to the double gun-mounting. The hoist forconveying the powder charges to the gun-platform may be constructed andarranged in an analogous manner to that above described with referenceto the double gun-mounting. A space is provided in the revolving trunkfor taking up the ammunition by hand, and an opening in the gun-platformcommunicates with this passage, as above described.

In the arrangement illustrated by Fig. 1l

we have shown the lower end of the trunk C extended downwardly below thelloor M of the powder-room to the iioor N of the shell-room, which issituated beneath the powder-room. In this case the shells aretransported from storage-bins along overhead transportingrails n byrunners n,worked by a hydraulic press n2 or by hand. The shells aredeposited by the runners onto suitably-arranged receiving-trays O,carried by independently-revolving bogies O O2 at the lower end of thesaid trunk, which bogies are worked by hand-wheels O3 O4, so that theshells received by said trays from the runners can be brought intoposition to be supplied to waiting trays 04X, carried by the trunk inwhatever position these waitingtrays may assume by the rotation of thetrunk and in that way be supplied to the shell-cage D, In order toenable the said rotating bogies to work relatively to the trunk or tothe ship, two separate toothed rings O5 OS are provided-one on therevolving trunk and the other attached to the ship, to either of whichthey can be connected at will by means of a clutch on the vertical shaftO7.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

l. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk 'of the turn-table, of hoists for conveying theshell and powder charges separately up said trunk to the gun-platform,from shell and powder rooms, waiting trays within the shell-room andarranged in operativerelation with respect to the trunk and 'from whichtrays the shells are adapted to be supplied to the shell-hoist,shiftable receivingtrays arranged in operative relation with respect tothe trunk and from which trays the shells are adapted to be supplied tothe waiting trays, means for shifting the receivingtrays, an auxiliarylifting-cage situated at the rear of the gun, means for automaticallytransferring the shell from the shell-hoist to the said auxiliarylifting-cage, a swinging loading tray carried by an oscillatory part ofthe gun-mounting, means for transferring the shells from the auxiliarylifting-cage to the swinging loading-tray, and means for actuating saidswinging loading-tray to bring the shell it contains in alinement withthe gun-breech, substantially as described.

2. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for IOO IIO

ordnance, the combination with the revolvspect to the trunk and fromwhich trays the shells are adapted to be supplied to the waiting trays,means for shifting the receiving-trays, an auxiliary lifting-cagesituated at the rear of the gun, a receiving-tray located on thegun-platform at a point between the shellhoist and the auxiliaryli'Lting-cage when these are respectively at their highest and. lowestpositions, means for regulating the passage of the shells from theshell-hoist to the receiving-tray and from the .latter to the auxiliaryli ting-cage, a swinging load ing-tray carried by an oscillatory part ofthe gunmounting, means for laterally tilting the loading-cage to depositits shell into the said swinging loading-tray when opposite the latter,and means for actuating said swinging loading-tray to bring the shell itcontains in alinement with the gun breech, substantially as described.

3. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk of the turn-table, of hoists Vlfor conveying theshell and powder charges separately up said trunk to the gun-platform,from shell and powder rooms, waiting trays within the shell-room. andarranged in operative relation with respect to the trunk and from whichtrays the shells are adapted to be supplied to the shell-hoist,shiitable receivingtrays arranged in operative relation with respect tothe trunk and from which trays the shells are adapted to be supplied tothe waiting trays, means for shifting the receivingtrays, an auxiliaryliting-cage situated at the rear of the gun, a pivoted. receiving-traylocated on the gun-platform at a point between the shell-hoist and theauxiliaryliting-cage, when these are respectively at their highest andlowest positions, means for regulating the passage of the shells fromthe shell-hoist to the pivoted receiving-tray and from the latter to theauxiliary lifting-cage, a swinging loading-tray carried by anoscillatory part of the gun-mounting, means for laterally tilting theloading-cage to deposit its shell into the said swinging loading-traywhen opposite the latter, and means tor actuating said swingingloading-tray to bring the shell it contains in alinement with the gun-breech, substantially as described.

4. ln ammunition-hoisting apparatus :for ordnance, the combina-` ionwith the revolving trunk of the turn-table, ol" an intervening floorbetween the shell-room and powder-room hoists whereby the shell andpowder charges are conveyed separately up-said trunk to the gun-platformfrom rooms situated one below the other, waiting trays permanentlycarried by the revolving trunk at a point within the shell-room and"from which trays the shells are adapted to be supplied to theshell-hoists, and means 'forsuppllving the waiting trays with the slels.l

5. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk of a turn-table, of hoists whereby the shell andpowder charges are conveyed separately up said trunk to the gun-platformfrom rooms situated one below the other, waiting trays carried by theportion of the trunk that extends into the shell-room and `from whichtrays the shells are adapted to be supplied to the shell-cage,receiving-trays carried by bogies at the lower end of the trunk, meansfor transferring the shells from the shell-bins to the receiving-trays,and means for independently rotating the bogies relatively to the trunkor to the structure for the purpose specilied.

6. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk of the turn-table, of hoisting means whereby theshell andpowder charges are conveyed separately up said trunk to thegun-platform from rooms situated one below the other, a waiting trayarranged in the shell-room and from which tray the shell is adapted tobe supplied to the shell-cage, a shiftable receiving tray arranged atthe lower end of the trunk, means for transferring the shells from theshell-bins to the receiving-tray, and means for shifting thereceiving-tray.

7. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk of the turn-table, of hoisting means whereby theshell and powder charges are conveyed separately up said trunk to thegun-platform from rooms situated one below the other, waiting trayswithin the shellrooms and arranged in operative relation with respect tothe trunk and from which trays the shells are adapted to be supplied tothe shell-hoist, shiftable receiving-trays within the shell-room andarranged in operative relation with respect to the trunk, means fortransferring the charges from the shell-bins to the receiving-trays, andmeans for suitably shifting the receiving-trays.

8. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk of the turn-table, of hoists for conveying the shelland powder charges separately up said trunk to the gun-platform fromrooms situated one below the other, waiting trays carried by thatportion of the trunk that extends into the shell-room and from whichtrays the shells are adapted to be supplied to the shell-hoist,receiving-trays Carried bybogies at the lower end of the trunk, meansfor transferring the shells from the shell-bins to the receiving-trays,means for independently rotating the bogie relatively to the trunk or tothe structure, an auxiliary lifting-cage situated at the rear of thegun, means for automatically transferring the shells from the hoist tothe said auxiliary lifting-cage, a-swinging loading-tray carried by anoscillatory part of the gun- IOO lIO

mounting, means for transferring the shells from the auxiliarylifting-cage to the swinging loading-tray, and means for actuating saidswinging loading-tray to bring the shell it contains in alinement withthe gun-breech, substantially as described.

9. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance, the combination withthe revolving trunk of the turn-table, of hoists for conveying the shelland powder charges separately up said trunk to the gun-platform fromrooms situated one below the other, waiting trays carried by the portionof the trunk that extends into the shell-room and from which trays theshells are adapted to be supplied to the shell-hoist, receiving-trayscarried by bogies at the lower end of the trunk, means for independentlyrotating the bogies relatively to the trunk, an auxiliary lifting-cagearranged in operative relation with respect to the gun, a receiving-traylocated on the gun-platform at a point between the shell-hoist and theauxiliary lifting-cage when they are respectively at their highest andlowest positions, means for regulating the passage of the shells fromthe shell-hoist to the receiving-tray and from the latter to theauxiliary lifting-cage, a swinging loadingtray carried by an oscillatorypart of the gunmounting, means for' laterally tilting the loading-cageto deposit its shell into the said swinging loading-tray when oppositethe latter, and means for actuating said swinging loading-tray to bringthe shells it contains in alinement with the gun-breech, substantiallyas described.

10. In ammunition-hoisting apparatus for ordnance7 the combination withthe revolving trunk ofthe turn-table, of hoists for conveying the shellsand powder charges sepashell-hoist and the auxiliary lifting-cage,

when these are respectively at their highest and lowest positions, meansfor regulating the passage of the shell from the shell-hoist to thepivoted receiving-tray and from the latter to the auxiliarylifting-cage, a swinging loading-tray carried by an oscillatory part ofthe gun-mounting, means for laterally tilting the loading-cage todeposit its shell into said swinging loading-'tray when opposite the latter, and means for actuating said swinging loading-tray to bring theshell it contains in alinement with the gun-breech, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto set our hands, in presence of twosubscribing witnesses, this 26th day of November, 1903.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. JAMES HORNE. Witnesses to the signature of ArthurTrevor Dawson:

C. A. SEARLE, HENRY KING. Witnesses to the signature of James Horne:

R. l5. D. BRADSHAW, W. H. ATKINSON.

